Head gasket versus crack

[lotzagoodstuff]

I know this question has no answer, but I am hoping to get some past experience from some of you who may have seen this before. Typical symptoms of oil in coolant, engine is consuming some water, although it's never really overheated. It's a 1993 7.3, about 150K miles. Other than the dreaded cavitation/block worm which I would assume I could check for by looking at SCA levels, how well do the heads hold up on 7.3s? It's not my truck, just trying to help somebody out.

Thanks

R. J.

 

[aaklingler]

The most common problem with oil in the coolant is the oil cooler.

 

[lotzagoodstuff]

Thanks for the input. Any way to troubleshoot if the cooler is shot versus a possible head gasket?

Are replacement coolers available for the IDI?

Thanks again

R. J.

 

[tonkadoctor]

Thanks for the input. Any way to troubleshoot if the cooler is shot versus a possible head gasket?

Are replacement coolers available for the IDI?

Thanks again

R. J.

Do a leak down & compression check on the engine. If all is good there, prolly time to yank the oil cooler. O-rings, gaskets & cooler are available from Ford.

 

[icanfixall]

The heads don't crack that often. It depends on care. Has the motor been overheated. Most times what you are explaining about really sounds like cavitation to me. I have had the oil cooler o-rings let go and all I saw was oil in my coolant. Now when I had the cavitation I had water in the oil and oil in the coolant. This can also be a head gasket too. If the motor never had SCA added to the coolant or the coolant was not maintained properly this is about the mileage when caviattion happens. If it has started then sleeving the block with dry sleeves will save it. Its done all the time and if done right its better than the original block.